Before coming to Winona, Dr. Thomas Stark was vice president of fiscal affairs at Mankato State. He was a native of the Duluth area and an honors graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He taught and served in various capacities in the public schools at Two Harbors and Grand Rapids, Minn., while pursuing work on a master's degree and doctoral studies.

In 1965, Stark received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University, and the next year was named superintendent of schools at Grand Rapids. He later went to the University of Minnesota as an associate professor of educational administration where he served until he became superintendent of the Mankato Public Schools in 1974.

President Stark brought to campus a solid background of experience and common sense. He helped give rise to a reasonable working relationship between administration and faculty.

Thomas Stark served at Winona State university until he died of a heart attack while on vacation with his family in 1988.